Chapter 18
Gage
Saturday dawned hot as hell, but that was fine by all of us, as Asher had wanted a pool party for his birthday.
I hosted, owning said pool, and was happy.
Everyone chipped in for different things.
Zar got the cake, and Zar’s sister, Adah—whom I considered to be the elder sister I didn’t have—brought over sunflowers and birthday ribbons to decorate the place.
Let’s face it, Asher wouldn’t consider it a proper party unless there were decorations.
Everyone contributed food and alcohol, and I had the stuff for several drinking games, including beer pong.
I’d told Logan he didn’t need to bring anything. Of course, he didn’t listen and brought over an experimental craft beer he’d been brewing, which was fucking delicious.
I might have had a full beer before the party even started. Shhhh.
Every time I thought I knew all of Logan’s talents and interests, he surprised me with things like “Oh, by the way, I brew beer,” which was not an easy hobby. I’d tried my hand with brewing, and it had tricks.
He progressively grew more impressive, and I was already pretty damn impressed.
I loaded up a plate at the makeshift buffet, quite happy with the selection. Riggs had brought his famous ribs, and my god, he should open a restaurant for these alone. Not that I’d let him leave. The office would implode without him.
Now, let’s see, where to sit… I’d brought out two large folding tables so everyone had a place to sit, eat, and chat.
There was no space over there—Zar’s siblings had basically taken over that table, including his work partner, Madison.
All right, to my left there was a spot. Ooh, at the same table as Logan. Perfect. I beelined for it.
While I walked, though, I observed him. He was engaged in conversation with Cohen, both of them clearly enjoying the subject. Aside from DnD and me, I didn’t know these two had anything in common?
I took the seat across from him, ease dropping to catch up.
“—so I’m sitting there, listening to these four adults complain about how music these days was too full of sex and drugs, and how it was so inappropriate for children, and the music from their day wasn’t like that, and I’m going…
uh…should I tell them? Someone needs to tell them.
” Logan shook his head, a half laugh echoing alongside his words.
“Finally, they pause for a beat, and I’m like, ‘Guys, I hate to break this to you, but some of the most popular songs of the seventies were all about drugs.’ And then I start listing off the lyrics to ‘Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,’ and ‘A Horse with No Name,’ and ‘Hotel California.’ And you could see their eyes widen with realization as they’re now listening to those lyrics with an adult’s ears. ”
Cohen snickered, head nodding as if he knew precisely what Logan meant.
“But the kids don’t get it. They don’t have context for any of that yet, so it skips right over their heads.
Hell, my son loved the song ‘Diggin’ Up Bones’ by Randy Travis when he was seven.
Which I thought was an odd choice until I asked him why he liked it so much.
He said it was so cool to have a song about digging up dinosaurs. ”
Logan busted out laughing. “Oh my god, he thought they were dinosaur bones?”
“Yup. I didn’t have the heart to correct him.”
Ah, they talked of music, this made more sense now. Cohen and Logan both liked similar genres.
Well, I could join in on this conversation. “I had a similar, personal experience. I don’t know if you remember, Logan, but ‘Addicted’ by Saving Abel was super popular when we were in junior high.”
“Oh sure, that was constantly on the radio.” Then he paused, eyes widening. “Oh shit.”
“Ha, you just realized, didn’t you? That whole song is about how much he loves going down on his girlfriend.”
“Oh my god, it is! I haven’t heard that song in years.” Logan leaned back and laughed. “Wooow. Okay, that was a sleeper, right there.”
“Felt the same way when it ambushed me three years ago. I just happened to be in a rental car, and SiriusXM played it, and I’m like…hold on…is he saying what I think he’s saying? My parents let me listen to this?”
“Can’t even blame it solely on the seventies,” Cohen said before taking a swig of beer. “There’s songs in the twenties about murdering a husband. Wow, this is really good beer.”
Logan lifted his own beer in salute. “Thanks.”
“I’m buying some of this off you later,” Cohen warned him.
“I’ve got cases, man. Feel free to grab whatever.”
“Really? I’ll take a case.”
“Sure.”
Adah called from the other side of the pool. “I need someone taller than me!”
I almost immediately stood, but Logan waved me down.
“Eat, eat, I got it.”
I watched him saunter toward her, assured that whatever it was, he could handle it. This was a relief, watching Logan fit in so well with my friends. He did it effortlessly, too.
Cohen’s head tilted as if to study my expression more head-on. “I think I know by looking at you, but you talked to Logan yet?”
“Not yet.” I blew out a breath. “I need to. I need to find the right timing.”
For many reasons, I needed to move our relationship forward.
Not just because I itched to lay hands on Logan.
I liked sex, always had, but I’d never wanted someone like I wanted him.
Often, when I was around him, I felt like the air became charged.
As if my entire body could sense him next to me even without a single part of us touching. Our chemistry together would be insane.
It wasn’t like I had a formal blueprint in my head of how a relationship should go, but I did have a rough sketch.
Of how the foundation should be genuine liking of the other person, the framework friendship and trust, with layers added on as the relationship progressed.
I’d mostly followed the idea with Logan, because I wanted that firm foundation under me.
According to my internal blueprint, he’d scored high in every section, including sharing my friends and social circle, which were key for me.
Watching him help Adah with a smile and a teasing expression cemented it for me. I needed some redline changes about now. I didn’t want to wait any longer to put us on the next level. I didn’t want to be casually dating, I wanted to be together.
All I had to do was find the right timing to take that step with him.
And god, I couldn’t wait, so it better be soon.
Cohen bumped my elbow with his. “Safe sex, okay? Don’t lose your head.”
I stared, aghast he could read that off my face so easily, because what the hell! “I was not that obvious.”
“You looked at that man like a starving wolf would a prime rib.” Cohen snorted, amused. “You think after knowing you so many years, I can’t read you?”
He had me there.